Emails Show Another Time Christie Aides Put Hoboken Project Over Flood Relief

Emails obtained by the New York Times for a story published Thursday show officials in the administration of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) made a proposed real estate development the top agenda item at a meeting scheduled to discuss flood relief in Hoboken, N.J.

The May 2013 meeting included Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer and officials from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Zimmer has alleged officials from the Christie administration later threatened to withhold Hurricane Sandy aid from her city unless she approved the development, which would be built on land owned by a firm linked to multiple Christie associates, the Rockefeller Group.

On May 8, the day before the meeting, severe rainstorms caused flooding in Hoboken and Zimmer sent a letter to Christie asking for further flood mitigation aid.

According to the Times, Rockefeller Group "sent two executives, two lobbyists and an engineer to the meeting" with Zimmer and NJDEP officials.

A spokesman for Zimmer told the Times the mayor declined to discuss the development project at the meeting.

The next day, according to the report, Zimmer was told that Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (R) would be coming to Hoboken the following week for a visit. It was during that visit, Zimmer has alleged, that Guadagno threatened to withhold Hurricane Sandy aid.